When Redknapp said “My Missus could have scored” after a terrible miss for Spurs against Portsmouth in January 2009, Darren Bent’s credibility sunk.

At Wembley on Saturday the striker represents England’s best chance of a goal against Switzerland in the European Championship qualifier.

It’s been a long journey. From Tottenham to Sunderland, a controversial £25m transfer to Aston Villa in the middle of last season and now England.

He has proved people wrong along the way, including England coach Fabio Capello.

Bent, the Premier League’s top English goal scorer last season with 17, said: “I have scored a few goals since Harry said that and to be honest, I have not thought about it too much.

“Maybe what he said influenced the fans’ perception of me. The public like Harry and I just had to get on with what I do, to show people I am a good goal scorer.

“I like to think I have proved a point to a lot of people since leaving Spurs.”

Redknapp delivered his amusing, yet damning verdict on Bent after he fluffed an open-goal header from a cross by David Bentley.

It would have won Spurs the game.

Bent said: “I have changed the public’s perception of me since then, although before I scored my first goal for England in Switzerland last September a lot of people were still saying I wasn’t good enough.

“I want to show them that I can do it at the top level. The criticism did once get to me.”

Bent, 27, is the classic predator, a striker who feeds off goals.

“I’d rather score five tap-ins than two wonder strikes,” he said. “Keep in the box, that’s my motto.

“I want to score as many goals as I can and they all mean exactly the same to me, whether in the six-yard box or from 30 yards.

“If I do make a mistake now I just think about the next chance. I used to read and watch everything although I am more relaxed today.

“I am doing the same things, which is the strange thing. In my head I am the same player, although Fabio Capello has said to me I have become a better player, so I must be doing something right.

“He has always been fair with me. You never know what he is thinking and if he’s picking me I must be doing okay.”

Bent’s total for the season in all competitions was 23.

“The best I got was my first against Arsenal at The Emirates,” he said.

“It was special as I used to support Arsenal and it came after a great move and ball from Kyle Walker.

“I managed to get the ball under control and finish it off.”

It was certainly the goal that made me change my mind about Bent.

I had never rated him until he took Walker’s pass on his chest and, while falling, volleyed into the net.

It was a class act and unexpected.

Does he now feel like England’s main forward?

With Wayne Rooney suspended at Wembley he carries the goal responsibility.

“I do feel part of the England set up now. But England’s main centre forward? Not yet.

“I have been in so many squads I do feel confident. The goal against Switzerland lifted a weight from my shoulders. I didn’t celebrate enthusiastically because I thought I might have been offside although inside I was jumping for joy.”

Bent made his England debut five years ago, in March 2006 against Uruguay.

“I knew if I scored goals for my club my chance would come again,” he said.

He missed out on the World Cup and is back following his goals for Sunderland, and especially Villa, this season.

"I moved to Villa to play with better players, like Ashley Young and Stewart Downing. Those kind of players around me create chances.

"I'm worried that they will not be at Villa next season and I just hope the club can hold on to them."

Speaking before his Villa boss quit yesterday, he added: “I wish Gerard Houllier well. I owe him a lot because he had faith in me.”

Bent keeps a personal record of his goals and says he is satisfied with 23 last season.

“Most strikers play around 40 games and so one every two games is a good return. If you are up around 20 you are doing well,” he said.

“I look at my stats and know how many goals I have scored. I always set myself a target for the season.

“I have never worried about scoring. If you haven’t hit the net for a few games maybe it does play on my mind. Perhaps I think too much.”

He hadn’t thought about Redknapp until yesterday, when he was reminded of one of the low moments of his career.

It was also a turning point and he hopes he has also changed Redknapp’s mind about him, especially as his old Tottenham boss is favourite to take over from Capello in the summer of 2012.

“I have heard that,” laughed Bent.

“If he was to become the next manager and didn’t pick me, even when I was scoring goals, then something would be going on.

“I am sure he would do a good job as England manager although it is down to me to score and convince people. That’s the way it’s always been.”